New Year...... New Water!!!!

The Honda 3000 generator quit about 3pm New Years Eve.  It had been blowing black smoke and then quit.  Only -4 C.  It has got to be the fuel...
So Vikki couldn't let you know that Bryan got out of his problem okay.  In fact it was no problem.... just  a bent over alder rammed up under the running board and with the 4' of powder the skidoo needed a little chainsaw help.  It was decided on the SBX check at 2 pm in that he'd come back New Years afternoon.  Bryan said Ishi and he had a great time for 15 minutes while he played the harmonica and Ishi howled, yipped and yodeled alone with him.   Vikki spent New Years Eve oil painting by Coleman Lamp listening to the radio.  At 7pm she talked to Bryan on the SBX for a minute... really poor signals.  

This big plastic container was packed full of snow and look how much water you get from it.  Lots of trappers depend on snow melt and it is a lot of work for the results.  
Bryan got back yesterday at 2 pm and said "Before I take off my heavy cloths lets do the well cleanup".  We try to do it twice a year.  It was only -2 C so the perfect day.  It requires brushing down the sides of the well with a corn broom, stirring up the bottom of the well with a heavy stick.  Putting the Honda water pump into the crawl space, hooking up the suction hose into the well, laying the 3"

fire hose out of the cabin window and out into the yard, opening up all the cabin windows, putting Bee in her carrying case out side.  Starting the Honda pump and everyone going out side.  It is a terrible job but well worth the effort.  The whole thing took about 2 hours to do.  A rock went up into the wheel of the pump so Bryan had to take the pump apart and then he made a heavy screen out of Marten box screen which held the end off the bottom 4 ".
This morning Bryan tackled the water pump.
Something was jammed in the foot valve.  It would loss its pressure back down the well.  So today that foot valve was replaced.  New running water for the New Year... one of the best of gifts.  

Now this is a working trap line, the lines need to be checked every 3 days. Vikki was going to go today but the snow conditions are loosey.... climbing the hills is going to be hard.  Off they went to spend the night at the Inklin Cabin.  We are running out of spark plugs for the Honda.  If I don't post you will now that the generator has stopped again.  I have emailed Honda World in Whitehorse and Chris will pick us up a dozen. 

New Generator Cart Bottom and Wheels

 Last week Bryan cut up an old board and put new wheels on the Generator cart. 

The holes needed to be enlarged and so he punched them out.  Drilling would have weakened the metal.

Marten, Ishi and Bryan fixes the Generator

 While Bryan was rebuilding the bed in the linecabin down on the Inklin, Ishi was outside bringing a collection of throwing sticks for when Bryan came out.  There she was sitting patiently.... waiting with all her finds.

 Tracks of otter and rabbits.  Bryan also say a Beaver sitting out on the ice.  Lots of Moose tracks, Fisher tracks, Rabbit tracks and Marten. 

 As daylight was going fast, Bryan drained the Honda generator encase it was dirt that was the problem.  Then he checked the spark plug.... right away he saw the problem.  That new spark plug had a solid piece shorting it out.  He replaced the spark plug and it started right up.

Honda Generator Quit On Vikki again, Freezing Lemons

 Vikki had been on the computer, got her blogging done and had went and filled up all the water contains... so when the gen quit she didn't panic.  Even if she hadn't filled the water contains there's enough snow outside to get water for anything she needed to do.  Bryan would be back in a couple of days.  She went and looked if the gen needed oil but a couple of oz flowed out. 

When she checked the last of the fresh lemons Vikki decided to freeze the remainer.  She will just grate the frozen lemon, skin and all.
Christmas music on the XM radio is very cheery at this time of year.  Christmas baking of different cookies filled her day but the dark comes early at 4 pm now.  When on a little holiday this summer with her Mum Vikki found these little lights powered by AA Batteries.  It is surprising how they also brighten the spirits.

 Lights say they can be seen on www.primitivesbykathy.com  but I didn't check it out.

 These are Star Anise Cookies...

Those little lights will get good use out here in the cabin. 

Bryan's Clothing Gear, Generator on Wheels

Leather pack boot is Maverick from Sorel with thick removeable liners.

80 % Wool pants with cargo pockets are made in Canada and go on top of long underwear and he wears a belt plus heavy suspenders.  His thick 75 % Wool shirt is from Woolrich.

These bright orange bib overall are what Loggers and Fallers wear.  They withstand the heavy beating of trail making, and logging and are not easy to melt if too close to a fire.... which most skidoo pants do. 

 These Maverick Sorel boots have closed rings.  Those half open fasteners that most boots have now a days will trip you good one time too many. It is really hard to find any boot like this one. 

 The sheepskin/leather cap and black leather mitts are from furhatworld.com
Bryan always wears a ball cap underneath.... the visor keeps the snow out of his glasses.  Also a snud keeps snow from going down his jacket. 
The three fingered faller mitts with 100 % Wool put out liners.... plus the Orange Bid Coveralls and heavy duty suspenders are from Savoy Equipment down in Vernon, BC. If anyone wants their email address just contact us.

 It has been - 24 C last night and the Generator comes in the cabin at any thing below -12 C.  It is on a wheeled trolley for easy handling along the walkway around the cabin.

Exhaust is about 2 feet from the propane divider.